The Human Question

It just occurred to me that we come up with the concept of a line (as found in geometry: i.e., perfectly straight, with zero deviation, no matter how precisely you consider it) by thinking teleologically, that is by intending to produce straightness when engaging in craftsmanship. Interesting because the math consideration of nature is supposed to prescind from the consideration of purposes in nature... even though the purely mathematical objects being applied to nature may themselves be constituted through goal-directed activities (is there any other kind of activity?).

One interesting point of departure for the study of human nature is our ability to know (or suppose that we know) laws of nature. For quite a while these laws have been formulated in mathematical and geometric terms. But math and geometry involve a kind of awareness of the infinite: the infinities that pertain to math and geometry, that is. But what kind of awareness is that? Is it simply a combination of NOT plus FINITE? But how could that mean anything if finite things are all we know? There is some sort of transcendence of experience going on here. Or rather, a transcendence of all possible experience. At this point it seems to be a good idea to reread the Phaedo.